Dialogue McGill Community Bursary Program

The Community Network Bursary Program provides financial support to students enrolled in health and social services programs in Quebec, helping them cover tuition, books, and living expenses. The program also connects students to local placements, supporting regional and local priorities for improving access to health and social services in English across Quebec.  

Funded by Dialogue McGill, REISA administers the bursary to students enrolled in Vocational, CEGEP, and University programs in the health and social services fields. Recipients benefit from financial assistance and career support, giving them incentives to pursue and remain in careers in the East and North of Montreal, as part of Dialogue McGill’s Retention Program.

REISA’s Role 

English-speaking communities in Quebec often face barriers when accessing health and social services in their preferred language. REISA’s role in the Dialogue McGill Program is to promote and support the retention of health and social service professionals in Montreal’s east and north, helping to ensure that English-speaking residents can access care in English. 

To achieve this, REISA builds partnerships with English-speaking community organizations and educational institutions to promote internship and employment opportunities in the region for students pursuing careers in health and social services. 

Detailed Information

Within Home Region

University $5,000
Cégep/College $2,500
Vocational Training $1,000 – $2,000

Outside Home Region

University $10,000
Cégep/College $5,000
Vocational Training $1,000 – $2,000

The bursaries are tax-exempt.

Community networks paying bursaries should contact federal and provincial authorities (Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec) to get appropriate information about the issuing of tax slips.

The Community Network Bursary Program is open to full-time students in Quebec who:

  • are Canadian citizens (or permanent residents) who have resided in their Quebec home region for at least 24 months;

  • have the appropriate English and French language skills to provide health and social services in a health and social services institution in Quebec;

  • are pursuing studies in a government-recognized educational institution located INSIDE or OUTSIDE their home region;

    • are accepted into or are currently pursuing full-time studies in an eligible health and social service program;

      • Eligible programs are government-recognized health and social services programs that permit the students to work professionally in Quebec upon completion of their studies. Programs of study must prepare students for careers where they will be providing direct care and service; consult the list of eligible programs to learn more.

  • are registered full-time for the application period’s academic year;

  • are committed, following completion of studies, to working in their home region, or catchment area of the sponsoring community network, in a recognized public health and social services institution for a minimum of one year per bursary awarded;

    • Medical program graduates will be required to work in a Quebec public health and social services institution for a minimum of one year per bursary awarded. A specific region is not required due to Quebec’s permit assignment system, known as the plans régionaux d’effectifs médicaux (PREM)

  • agree to participate in any follow-up, monitoring or evaluation of the Program conducted by Dialogue McGill and/or the community network.

Please note that the Bursary Program is not available to students registered in independent study programs, nor programs that do not lead to a degree or diploma.

Students are uniquely responsible for ensuring that any Dialogue McGill awarded bursary does not conflict with the requirements of bursaries awarded from another funding source or organization. We recommend that students communicate with their funding sponsors to clarify any potential conflicts.

Student Application Deadline

Students must submit all required documents to REISA by May 7, 2026. 

Community Networks

REISA will submit our recommendations to Dialogue McGill by June 4, 2026. 

Decisions Rendered

Dialogue McGill will render decisions by July 23, 2026.  

Vocational Training Deadlines

To accommodate the multiple starting dates of vocational training programs in Quebec, Dialogue McGill has opted to offer an open call for bursaries for students in vocational training programs.

Applicants are asked to provide the following documentation.

  • Resume
  • Letter of acceptance to the institution
  • Academic transcripts (official or unofficial)
  • 2 letters of references
  • Letter of intent
  • Signed application

All supporting documents can be downloaded from the Dialogue McGill webpage.

In the event one of these documents is missing/unfinished, the committee coordinator will email the student asking them to resend the required documents in their rightful format and give them a deadline to do so.

Please submit your application with completed supporting documents to youth@reisa.ca, titled  “Community Network Busary Program 2026,” by May 2026 (exact date to be determined).

Application Process

  • Step 1

    Student Application

    Students must fill out Form 1: Student Application, including the identification of their home region and the participating community network that will coordinate (sponsor) their bursary application within that region.

  • Step 2

    Document Submission

    Students must send the following documents to REISA’s contact person:

    • Form 1: Student Application, duly completed and signed;

    • most recent Curriculum Vitae;

    • An official letter of acceptance into their program that they have received from their educational institution;

    • Most recent academic transcript: if they are a first-year student after high school, they are to attach their latest high school transcript.

    Step 2

  • Step 3

    Letters of reference

    Students must also provide two (2) references from within their community.

    Students fill out section 1 of Form 2: Reference Providers and ask that their references complete sections 2-4.

    Reference Providers email the completed Form 2: Reference Providers to the contact person.

  • Step 4

    Selection Process

    The selection of bursary recipients is a three-step process. The first step takes place at the community network level, the second at the regional level, and the third at the Dialogue McGill level.

    Community Networks begin their selection process once the student application deadline has passed.

    Step 4